3 Texas dogs still available for adoption

Photo by Daniel Freel/New Jersey Herald
Frisco, a male Labrador mix about 10 months old, is one of three dogs at Father John's Animal House in Lafayette that are available for adoption. Frisco and 77 other dogs from animal shelters affected by Hurricane Harvey were brought to various animal shelters throughout the state. He was one of eight dogs that came to Father John's. Four of them have been adopted; a deposit has been placed on a fifth.

Photo by Daniel Freel/New Jersey Herald
Cortney Bresett, a Father John’s Animal House dog kennel staff member, takes Zazu out of his kennel for a walk in the sunshine after he arrived from Texas at the end of last month. Zazu is one of three dogs available for adoption at Father John’s in Lafayette from the eight that were brought in due to Hurricane Harvey.

LAFAYETTE -- After their arrival at Father John's Animal House, eight dogs from Texas shelters -- flown to New Jersey to make room in shelters for lost dogs from Hurricane Harvey -- have acclimated to their much cooler surroundings here in Sussex County with many finding new homes, according to shelter director Garret Barcheski.

After word spread that the dogs, all estimated to be near or under the age of 1, were at the shelter, pre-adoption forms were submitted at a rapid pace culminating with a "Texas Hold 'Em" event Saturday for potential adopters to meet them, sealing the deal.

Dogs that have already been spoken for include Abilene, a female mixed breed; Houston, a male mixed breed; Lone Star, a male Plott Hound-mix; and Austin, a male mixed breed. On Wednesday, a deposit was placed on Mesquite, a blue-nosed pitbull.

Still available are Zazu, a three-legged male mixed breed who has no problems getting around; Galveston, a female black and white mixed breed cattle dog and pitbull terrier; and Frisco, a male Labrador mix around 10 months old.

The shelter is also host to many other dogs as well and as more dogs are adopted, others can be brought in.

Next week, Barcheski, said that the shelter is opening its doors to nine dogs from Mississippi, and although they haven't been on an airplane or been tied to two natural disasters, they are just as in need of homes as any other dog.

To aid Father John's in its latest rescue missions, the local community has donated food, money and supplies.

SCARC, Inc., an organization that serves people with developmental disabilities through various programs and services, held a supply drive and donated items to the shelter this past weekend.

Kittatinny Regional High School science teacher Laura Haug also had her students come together to assist the shelter, filling up a large water bucket with monetary donations.

To consider donating to Father John's or to fill out a pre-application form for a dog or cat visit www.fatherjohnsanimalhouse.org.

Lori Comstock can also be reached on Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH, on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LoriComstockNJH or by phone: 973-383-1194.

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